Jane Lead
Jane Lead (March 1624 – August 19, 1704) was an Christian mystic whose calling from God inspired a visionary ministry that shaped the Philadelphian Society, proclaiming divine wisdom and spiritual renewal across the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born Jane Ward in Letheringsett, Norfolk, England, to Hamond Ward, a prosperous gentleman, and Mary Calthorpe, she was the youngest of twelve children in a well-off family, baptized on March 9, 1624. Her education was informal, shaped by a comfortable upbringing and personal spiritual experiences rather than formal theological training, culminating in a transformative moment at age 15 during a 1639 Christmas dance when a heavenly voice declared, “Cease from this, I have another dance to lead thee in.” Lead’s calling from God unfolded after marrying William Lead, a merchant, in 1644, living happily with him and their four daughters in King’s Lynn until his death in 1671 left her penniless in London. That year, a vision of the Virgin Sophia—divine wisdom personified—called her a “Bride of Christ,” igniting her ministry of recording divine revelations. Ordained informally by her mystical experiences, she preached through writings and leadership, joining John Pordage’s Behmenist group in 1668 and assuming its helm after his 1681 death, renaming it the Philadelphian Society in 1694. Her sermons, preserved in works like A Fountain of Gardens (1696–1701) and The Revelation of Revelations (1683), called for a universal restoration through the Inner Light, influencing Quakers and Pietists despite opposition from Anglican authorities. Widowed, with no further marriages, she passed away at age 80 in London, leaving a legacy of mystical preaching that echoed beyond her time.
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Jane Lead preaches about the importance of seeking the Love Banner and Pavilion of Power as our stronghold and hiding place, urging believers to relentlessly pursue this divine revelation. She describes a vision of a transparent Glassy-Body representing the original source from which the new creature in the powerful Divine nature would emerge. The Earthly Man is depicted as moldering away to make room for the Holy Ghost to sow in a pure formation, leading to a crystalline body fit for the fiery Breath to enter and walk with Jesus on the Glassy-Sea. Believers are encouraged to prepare for a transfiguring glory that will allow them to experience the Beatific Vision and intimate fellowship with Jesus through the Baptism of Water and Fire.
Scriptures
January 3. 1678. the Former Vision Opened.
THE Love Banner, and Pavilion of Power was said, should be our strong hold and hiding, therefore, give your selves no rest, till ye find it out, spake the Holy Unction from within. Then was the Vision and the transparent Glassy-Body, further opened unto me, which was presented to shew the Original, from whence the new Creature in the powerful Divine nature would spring. The Mountain of Earth, which was seen to moulder away, so soon as the Heavenly Figure did appear, was open'd to be the Earthly Man, which became a plain or passive thing for the Holy Ghost to be sown in. Which would readily drink in this Fountain-Power, and co-injoin together for a pure formation, and so come forth a compacted Body all Crystalline, and made all meet for the fiery Breath to enter, and set it upon its Feet to walk with Jesus upon the Glassy-Sea, which encompasseth the Throne of the most Holy, as a Body of Might and great Wonder. For it was revealed that of this kind, the perfect Order of the new Creation would be constituted. Upon which, I was advised by the Counsel of the holy Trinity, to look into this great Mystery: for such a Change to the Elected ones will happen; as they shall here for it believe, and in perseverance prepare to wear such a transfiguring Glory, as may become the Region of Purity, where God and the Lamb do appear with them. For what else does at present deprive us of the Beatifical Vision, and free Society, and liberty of Converse, with what is all Deified, but the meaness of our Spirits, that mixed and hangeth upon these Earthly things, so as our Lord knows not how to be free, or familiar with us? For we cannot bear the Clarity of his glorified Person, except it be by transient Vision, or by some sudden catchings up, as out of the Body; which remain but for a little season. Now our Spirits have much urged intimacy, and to keep up acquaintance and conversation with him, (who is as Flesh of our Flesh, and as Bone of our Bone) accounting it very grievous to be as excluded from him, who hath undertaken our Restoration, and to be our Restorer. Upon which considerations we have near alliance unto him, for the satisfying and quieting of such restless Spirits, that will in no way be answered, but in a co-existing and mutual Fellowship with the now glorified Person of Jesus. Whose Spirit did most freely and plainly declare unto me, that there was no other way for the attainment hereof, but by the Baptism of Water and Fire, as the Seed-Life, which consummates the very real Birth of the Holy Ghost which will absolutely make a perfect and fixed Change through the whole Nature; which till then, we cannot expect that apparent Sight and Union of that high degree, it taking up all Spiritual community with him as we have often specified. For all things relating hereunto must be in equal proportion and suitableness, as New Bottles to hold the mighty vigorous Wine of the Spirit. This Word was unfolded more deep, that what hath been generally seen or understood of it. The Bottle is the new Creature, which signifies the very Form and Figure, in which, and through which, the holy acting Power doth animate in a Body suitable to it self, all of Coelestial matter, according to the Nature of the Glassy-Sea, which admitteth nothing of an Cloudy matter to darken or dim the Glory, Beauty, and Perfection thereof.
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Jane Lead (March 1624 – August 19, 1704) was an Christian mystic whose calling from God inspired a visionary ministry that shaped the Philadelphian Society, proclaiming divine wisdom and spiritual renewal across the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born Jane Ward in Letheringsett, Norfolk, England, to Hamond Ward, a prosperous gentleman, and Mary Calthorpe, she was the youngest of twelve children in a well-off family, baptized on March 9, 1624. Her education was informal, shaped by a comfortable upbringing and personal spiritual experiences rather than formal theological training, culminating in a transformative moment at age 15 during a 1639 Christmas dance when a heavenly voice declared, “Cease from this, I have another dance to lead thee in.” Lead’s calling from God unfolded after marrying William Lead, a merchant, in 1644, living happily with him and their four daughters in King’s Lynn until his death in 1671 left her penniless in London. That year, a vision of the Virgin Sophia—divine wisdom personified—called her a “Bride of Christ,” igniting her ministry of recording divine revelations. Ordained informally by her mystical experiences, she preached through writings and leadership, joining John Pordage’s Behmenist group in 1668 and assuming its helm after his 1681 death, renaming it the Philadelphian Society in 1694. Her sermons, preserved in works like A Fountain of Gardens (1696–1701) and The Revelation of Revelations (1683), called for a universal restoration through the Inner Light, influencing Quakers and Pietists despite opposition from Anglican authorities. Widowed, with no further marriages, she passed away at age 80 in London, leaving a legacy of mystical preaching that echoed beyond her time.